Natural party of government?

Has National quickly become the natural party of government? That's the question being asked by Allan Swann of the NBR in the wake of National and the Greens signing a Memorandum of Understanding today. He writes:

In a deal unthinkable pre-John Key, the Prime Minister has reached across the aisle and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Green Party, and has already started work on some joint initiatives.

The deal proposes a framework around which the two parties can work together to develop policy and legislation in areas of common interest.

John Key signed the document with Green co-leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and Russel Norman today.

Under the terms of the agreement, both parties will retain their independence, and the right to speak on any issue freely. Both parties claim it is not based on any prerequisite policy agreements.

It is not a supply and confidence agreement, but its stated intent is to establish a “good faith working agreement.”

So much for the Greens saying that they could never work with National! They have quickly discovered the reality that being a small opposition party is the loneliest place in Parliament.

And where does this leave Labour? Desperate and dateless we reckon!